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Movies Opening Today

Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock) dazzles in his polka-dot afro circus costume in DreamWorks Animation's MADAGASCAR 3: EUROPE'S MOST WANTED, to be released by Paramount Pictures. MAD3-006

Movies Opening Today

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (3-D and 2-D)

An adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel of the same name, which introduces 16th president Abraham Lincoln (played by Benjamin Walker) as an axe-throwing, highly trained vampire assassin, promising to give new context to real historical events such as the Civil War and Lincoln’s ascension to the White House. It begins with his mother’s murder when he was still a boy, and his vow of revenge. Anthony Mackie, Dominic Cooper, Robin McLeavy and Mary Elizabeth Winstead co-star. Timur Bekmambetov directs.

The latest animated film from Pixar. Since ancient times, stories of epic battles and mystical legends have passed across Scottish generations. Now courageous Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald) confronts tradition, destiny and fierce beast. Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (voice of Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (voice of Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (voice of Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (voice of Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dindwall (voice of Robbie Coltrane). Merida’s actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury and, when she turns to an eccentric old wise woman (voice of Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it is too late. Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman.

Rated PG for some scary action and rude humor — Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and the Stars and Stripes Drive-In.

Moonrise Kingdom

This film by Wes Anderson is a period comedy-drama set in the 1960s. Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward play characters from an island off the New England Coast who run away together, throwing their small town into a frenzy. Various factions from the town mobilize to search frantically for them.

Rated PG — Movies 16.

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

Dodge, played by Steve Carell, is continuing to work — even answering phones — despite the announcements on news sites that the earth is about to be destroyed by an asteroid. He meets Penny, played by Keira Knightley, who has been accidentally receiving his mail, but never forwarded it because they hadn’t met. One of the letters was from Dodge’s high school girlfriend — the one who got away — and now would like to meet again.

Rated R — Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

Movies Continuing This Week

(Marvel’s) The Avengers (in 3-D and 2-D)

Kerns Rating: Four stars.

Under Joss Wheedon’s direction, “The Avengers” winds up a super-cool summer movie, and not just because all those Marvel movie teasers from prior years pay off. What sets this picture apart from so many of its visual effects-driven predecessors is that these particular super heroes desire not only purpose, but deep-seeded friendships that range beyond family hopes or governmental orders. We’re even introduced to Agent Phil Coulson as a fan-boy collecting super-hero trading cards and, in some ways, he turns out to be super, too. Be assured that Wheedon has spared no expense in battles between the Avengers and forces commanded by Thor’s brother, Loki. Yet performances by Chris Evans (Captain America), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Chis Hemsworth (Thor) and especially Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) — oh, and let’s not forget Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson — all are believably funny, deadly and caring, and help make “The Avengers” better than even fans expected.

Certainly never boring, the film explores a period in the 1920s in Mexico when Roman Catholics rebelled against religious persecution at home. Andy Garcia stands out as a general inspired by the chances taken by a young boy whose faith gives him the courage to be martyred for God. Many of these scenes are difficult to watch. Production values are very high and, while Peter O’Toole is on screen only a brief time, he, too, ably makes a memorable impression, as much with his eyes and face as with the words in the script. Those seeing “For Greater Glory” may leave the theater intent on finding out more about the Cristerio War. James Horner’s music score is often moving, as well.

Rated R for war violence and some disturbing images — Tinseltown 17.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (in 3-D, 2-D)

Eric Darnell, who directed the first two “Madagascar” comedies, is back making decisions. Alex the lion (played by Ben Stiller); Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock); Melman the giraffe (David Schwimmer); Gloria the hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith); King Julien the Lemur (Sacha Baron Cohen); his assistant Maurice (Cedric the Entertainer); penguin commandoes Skipper, and the penguin commandoes (led by the Skipper) all want to return home to their beloved New York City. But they are being pursued in Europe by Capt. Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand). So they try to hide within a traveling circus, reinvented Madagascar style.

Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor — Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and the Stars and Stripes Drive-In.

Men in Black 3 (in 3-D and 2-D and Movies 16’s XD)

Kerns Rating: Four stars

The second sequel to director Barry Sonnenfeld’s sci-fi comedy about an organization formed to keep tabs on all alien activity that affects Earth is far better than its predecessor. It boasts a warm and often very funny story, with a twist no one should see coming in the midst of all the fast-paced action required to save the world. Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith are back as Agent K and Agent J, respectively. But when Agent K disappears, it’s up to Smith’s Agent J to time-jump (literally) back to 1969 and find K before he makes a huge mistake. Adding to the laughs is Josh Brolin, who plays the younger Agent K to cowboy music-loving perfection.

With “Prometheus,” director Ridley Scott at the very least delivers an intelligent and visually enticing science fiction picture. Be warned that the film cannot supply answers, certainly not easy ones, for every question asked, and yet it manages to inspire thought, conversation and debate, which is more than Hollywood usually delivers. That Scott is able to do all this while still delivering horrifying dangers — not to mention a surgical sequence that equals the most frightening moments in his 1979 classic, “Alien” — is a testament to his story-telling abilities.

Rated R for sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language — Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and the Stars and Stripes Drive-In.

In the role of evil Queen Ravenna, gifted actress Charlize Theron makes a terrific villain. Sadly, even her risk-taking choices cannot make the film, as a whole, entertaining or memorable. In fact, the three screenwriters at hand deliver only temporary tension, and often seem to be allowing director Rupert Sanders an opportunity to show off visually (here’s a troll, there are some pixies emerging from flowers). Oh, and he’s also opted to transform well-known actors into dwarves. Why go the non-PC route? I’m not real certain. Mind you, all the diversions might be because Kristen Stewart is absolutely awful as the title’s Snow White. And Chris Hemsworth, perhaps thinking of better days as Thor, is given far too little to do as the picture’s Huntsman. Thank goodness for Theron’s personification of true fairy tale evil.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sensuality — Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and the Stars and Stripes Drive-In.

That’s My Boy

While only a teenager, Donny (played by Adam Sandler) fathered a son, Todd (Andy Samberg), and raised him as a single parent only until Todd’s 18th birthday. Then he left. Now, having not seen each other for years, Todd’s world comes crashing down on him when his father shows up on the eve of his wedding. Trying desperately to reconnect with his son, Donny is forced to deal with the repercussions of his own bad parenting skills. Leighton Meester, James Caan and Susan Sarandon co-star.

TV fitness guru Jules (Cameron Diaz) and dance show star Evan (Matthew Morrison) find that their celebrity lives do not stand a chance against the surprising demands of pregnancy. Baby-crazy author/advocate Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) gets a taste of her own militant mommy advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body. Her husband, Gary (Ben Falcone), struggles not to be outdone by his competitive alpha-Dad (Dennis Quaid), who is expecting twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler (Brooklyn Decker). Photographer Holly (Jennifer Lopez) is ready to travel the globe to adopt a child, but her husband Alex (Rodrigo Santoro) is not so sure, and tries to quiet his panic by attending a male support group, where new fathers tell it like it really is. And rival food truck chefs Rosie (Anna Kendrick) and Marco (Chace Crawford) hook-up by surprise, which results in an unexpected quandary: what to do when your first child comes before your first date?